Counter device



June 13, 1961 E. w. Fr-:DDICK COUNTER DEVICE Filed sept. e, 1957 2,988,273 COUNTER DEVICE Earl William Feddick, 333 Morton St., Bay City, Mich. Filed Sept. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 682,433 2 Claims. (Cl. 23S-69) This invention relates to a counter device and more particularly to apparatus of the kind especially adapted for keeping score in a game such as billiards.

The scoring of billiards and other pool games heretofore has been accomplished principally by a players keeping track of the number of points he has amassed by shifting a corresponding number of beads along an overhead wire. The wires usually are strung at such height that the player is required to use his cue to effect movement of the beads and it not infrequently results that the application of the cue to the wire is made with such force that the latter breaks, thereby scattering beads about the room and necessitating restringing of a new wire.

Another disadvantage of using strung beads for keeping score is the possibility that repeated careless handling of the cue to eiect movement of the beads will cause separation of the cue and the cue tip. A further disadvantage of the bead type scoring system is that a players score cannot be determined at a glance, but requires careful inspection of the beads. In this connection, it is customary for every fifth bead on a str-ing to be larger or colored differently than the remainder, but such schemes to facilitate rapid determination of a players score cannot always be relied upon because of the possibility that one or more of the intervening beads may have broken and become dislodged.

An object of the invention is to provide counter apparatus for scoring a game of lbilliards or the like and being so constructed as to be mounted in a location that is readily accessible to the players of the game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter device of the kind referred to by means of which a players score can be determined at a glance.

A further object of the invention is to provide counter `apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is of rugged, durable construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out subsequently, or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus and showing it mounted on a support;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section, certain parts being broken away.

A counter device constructed in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference character 1 and comprises a backing member 2 formed of sheet metal or the like, a pair of slide elements 3 and 4, and a cover member 5 overlying the slide elements 3 and 4.

The backing member 2 preferably comprises a thin, substantially rectangular plate having a number of upstanding, substantially hemishperical projections 6 formed therein adjacent to each of the longer sides of the plate. Any suitable number of projections 6 may be provided, but it has been found that two such projections along each side of the plate are sucient.

nited States Patent() ice Each of the slide members 3 and 4 includes a body portion 7 and 8 respectively, to which is joined an upstanding operating part or leg 9 and 10 so that, in transverse section, each slide element presents a substantially L-shaped appearance as is best shown in FIGURE 4. The slide element 3 is provided on its upper surface with indicia in the form of numbers ranging from l through 9 and arranged in a row, the slide element 4 having similarly located numbers thereon, but ranging from 0 through 9. The upper surface of each of the slide elements 3 and 4 also is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 11, for a purpose presently to be explained, and the lower surface of each of the elements 3 and 4 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, substantially hemispherical depressions 12 of such size and being so located as to receive the projections 6.

The cover member 5 is generally rectangular shape in plan, and has a length corresponding substantially to the length of the plate 1, ibut the width of the cover preferably is less than the width of the plate. At each end of the cover 5 is a ange 13 which is adapted to bear against the plate 2 to support the cover and also to limit movement of the slides 3 and 4, and extending from tlange to flange is a projecting rib 14 which is substantially centrally located relatively to the cover 5 so as to be interposed between the elements 3 and 4 when the apparatus is assembled. Along each marginal side edge of the cover 5 is a flange 15 which projects only slightly below the main body portion of the cover, thereby providing openings in the sides of the cover through which the elements 3 and 4 may extend when the several parts are assembled. As is best shown in FIGURE 4, the flanges 15 are received in the grooves 11 formed in the elements 3 and 4 so as to co-operate with the latter and with the rib 14 in guiding the movements of the elements 3 and 4.

Substantially midway between the ends of the cover 5 the latter is apertured to provide a pair of windows 16, each of which is in register with the row of numbers carried by the respective elements 3 and 4 so as to enable selected members to be visible when the several parts are assembled.

To condition the disclosed embodiment of the invention for use, the plate 2 may be placed either vertically or horizontally against a suitable support S which conveniently may be the wall of a room or, in some instances, along the rail of a billiard table or the like so as readily to be accessible to the scorekeeper. The elements 3 and 4 then may be located on the plate 2 and be properly positioned by aligning the projections 6 with the depressions 12. Thereafter, the cover 5 may be placed over the elements 3 and 4 with the rib 14 positioned between the elements and the flanges 15 interengaging the grooves 15. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention the apparatus is maintained in assembly by means of screws 17 located one at either end of the apparatus and extending through openings formed in the flanges 13 and at corresponding places in the plate 2. If desired, the screws 17 may be of such length as to extend into the support S, thereby performing the dual function of maintaining the elements of the apparatus assembled and also mounting the device in condition for use.

To use the apparatus, the element 3 is slid to such position that the blank space immediately beneath the numeral l, as viewed in FIGURE 5, registers with the corresponding window 16 and the element 4 is slid to such position that the numeral 0 registers with its corresponding window 16. The sliding of the elements 3 and 4 is facilitated by the provision of bead-like projections 18 along the upper surfaces and outer sides of the legs 9 and 10. The elements 3 and 4 will be maintained in their respective positions of adjustment even though the apparatus may be supported vertically upon a wall due to the interengagernent of the projection 6 and the depressions 12. As a player scores points, the element 4 may be adjusted 'so that successive numbers in the units column will be displayed 'through the associated window 16. When a player scores more than 9 points, the element 4 may be readjusted to display the proper number in the units column and the element 3 adjusted to display the proper number in the tens column.

In each position of adjustment, -the elements 3 and 4 will be maintained by the interactionv of the projection 6 and the corresponding depressions 12 and in this connection it is important that the parts 6 and 12 be so located that only the number intended to be displayed through the window 16 is visible. The location of each depression 12 preferably is immediately opposite and centrally ofva number on the associated slide. The co-operating projections 6 should be spaced accordingly and be so located that a projection normally would be centrally positioned below a window 16. In actual practice, no projection is located below a window, but reference has been made to such location for purposes of description.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but the disclosure is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is dened in the claims.

1. Counter apparatus for mounting on a billiard table comprising an elongatedbacking member having a row of closely spaced, substantially hemispherical raised projections on the upper face thereof, Yindividual elongated 4 slide elements mounted on said backing member and provided with arow of indicia on the face thereof, said slidev elements being formed -with raised, uted edges on the side walls thereof, with the upper ends substantially ush with the upper face of the apparatus for engagement by an operator, closely spaced indents provided in the under face of the slide members for slidable vengagement out of and into register with the projections on the backing member, grooves in the face of each slide, a cover member having an opening in the face thereof and adapted to expose a selected indicia in the row of indicia carried by the slide elements when the slides are adjusted, the side walls of the cover projecting below the lower face thereof being accommodated in said grooves, and means at opposite ends of said apparatus for securing it to a billiard table or the like.

2. The combination dened in claim l in which the side Walls of the cover are open from Vend to end to permit travel of the slide elements on said backing mernber so that each'slide may be adjusted longitudinally to show the selected indicia VVtlzirough the opening in the cover member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

